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PS3 Review: Just Dance 2014

Just Dance 2014 is the fifth main installment in the series, excluding spin-off games like Just Dance Kids. With a humble beginning, each new entry seems to dish out more and more, broadening the franchise. This game is no different and may be the best yet.

The game includes 40+ tracks with more on the way via DLC. Each DLC song is $2.99, which seems like a dollar too much personally. The songs offer a variety of modes like the classic dance set up, dance battles, dance mashups, and more. The tracks themselves are great, ranging from recent hits like Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines to more obscure tunes like the theme from Love Boat. The movements with the PS Move controller sometimes feel perfect and forgiving, while other times the dance moves don’t sync right. It’s a problem that’s plagued the series from day one.

As far as the core Just Dance experience goes, everything is here. Choose a song, load it up, dance, and have fun. Simple. JD’s greatest features this time around are two new modes: Just Dance TV and the World Dance Floor. To start, JDTV allows players to watch recorded footage from other players, or upload videos themselves. The WDF is a global competition where players can jump in and out at any time, playing the same song as others across the world. These new additions may seem like fluff pieces, but they it makes the game feel more whole with the inclusion of social media. To switch gears, it’d be nice to double, or even triple the set list. Adding an import feature to transfer tracks from the previous games could have easily done just that. Dance Central and Rock Band have done it after all.

Just Dance 2014 is the best incursion of the series yet. The gameplay is smoother, the tracks are awesome, and the inclusion of the World Dance Floor and JDTV are neat concepts. Again, the gameplay still isn’t perfect and it would have been nice to see a longer list of songs, or better yet, including an import option. It’s not quite perfect, but it’s an excellent exercise motivator, or party game that excels at one thing above all else: being fun.

Score: 3/5 Stars

Special Notes: The publisher provided a review code for the game. This article was originally published on October 16, 2013 via my Examiner account before the website shut down.